Armored ballistic roll-up curtain

ABSTRACT

A roll-up curtain comprised of ballistic plates bonded onto flexible material is described. Strips of ballistic steel or rigid ballistic composite are bonded onto high-tensile strength flexible material, allowing the device to roll-up, as a curtain, while maintaining the same ballistic benefits of the components when unrolled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses a perceived vulnerability in the protection oflaw enforcement officers, military personnel, and civilians frombullets, shrapnel, bomb blasts, and other ballistic projectiles orconcussive forces. The temporary and portable protective use of largeplates of ballistic material poses several logistical problems: the costof production and supply of large surface area plates, ready transportand storage of large plates, and the inherent limitation of largeplates' conformation, for example. This invention addresses the need fora more portable, more easily stored, and more flexible means ofballistic protection than that afforded by large, single plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a shows a cross-section of the curtain fully-extended.

FIG. 1 b shows a cross-section of the curtain partially rolled-up.

FIG. 1 c shows a cross-section of the curtain fully rolled-up.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide the benefit of rigidballistic plates in a flexible, easily transported product which alsorolls-up.

It is an object of the invention to protect property and persons frombullets, shrapnel, ballistic projectiles, and bomb blasts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a ballistic roll-up curtain, allowing for readytransport and storage, while providing the protective properties oflarge, rigid ballistic plates. In this invention, strips of ballisticmaterial are placed edge-to-edge, flat-side down, onto and bonded with ahigh-tensile strength flexible material.

“Strips of ballistic material” includes, but is not limited to,manufactured strips of steel, ballistic steel, or ballistic composite.

“Strips of ballistic material” also includes, but is not limited to,strips cut from rigid, ballistic plates of steel, ballistic steel, orballistic composite.

“High-tensile strength flexible material” includes, but is not limitedto, ballistic fabrics or a combination of ballistic fabrics.

“Flat-side down” refers to placing onto the material the face comprisedof the two longest edges of a roughly rectangular solid, namely a stripof ballistic material.

“Bonded” includes any process which chemically or mechanicallyphysically attaches the strips to the flexible material. This includes,but is not limited to, attaching with an adhesive agent, attaching witha two-part epoxy agent, sewing material through the strips and theflexible material, thermally bonding the strips to the material, orelectrochemically bonding the strips onto the material.

The benefits of a large, rigid, ballistic plate are several. Mostimportantly, a ballistic plate should prevent the penetration ofballistic projectiles, most often, bullets from one side to the other.This offers an increased measure of protection to the people andproperty on the opposite side of the plate. However, apart fromincreased production costs associated with making a ballistic plate of acertain size, there are difficulties with portability, due to dimensionand weight, as well as storage, of a large plate.

This invention addresses the problems associated with the use of a largeballistic plate in situations that require portability of the associatedballistic properties. A ballistic curtain that rolls up greatlysimplifies transport and storage. FIG. 1 illustrates three conformationsof the invention. View 1 a demonstrates the curtain fully extended andprepared for use as a ballistic barrier. View 1 b shows the conformationof the curtain while rolling up. View 1 c shows the curtain fullyrolled-up for purposes of storage or travel. In all three views thecross-sections of the ballistic strips appear as small rectangles; andthe high-tensile strength, flexible material appears as a continuousband adjacent to all ballistic strips.

Following are examples of the invention

EXAMPLE 1

This example illustrates the invention's use as a ballistic barrierbehind a highly portable object, in this instance, a car door. Theinvention comprises a ballistic curtain as described above, produced indimensions comparable to that of a typical sedan automobile door. Theinvention may be attached, via rings or hooks, to the inside of anautomobile door. This allows a normal (non-ballistic) automobile door toacquire ballistic protective properties. This example of the inventionhas utility in the protection of law enforcement officers in the field,as the invention is portable to any vehicle, allowing an officer to havea personal protective barrier with extreme mobility.

EXAMPLE 2

This example illustrates the invention's use as a ballistic barrierbehind a portable and temporary structure, in this instance, a tent. Theinvention comprises a ballistic curtain as described above, produced indimensions as necessary to fit a tent face. Utilizing rings or hooks,the curtain may be secured, with strips either horizontal or vertical inorientation, to the existing frame of the tent, affording ballisticprotection to any side of a tent. This example of the invention hasutility in the protection of military and law enforcement personnel inthe field, as a temporary and normally vulnerable structure may quicklyand easily provide ballistic protection.

EXAMPLE 3

This example illustrates the invention's use as a ballistic barrier in apre-existing, non-ballistic structure, in this instance a house. Theinvention comprises a ballistic curtain as described above, produced inany variety of dimensions. Utilizing hooks, the curtain may be attachedunderneath a window, affording ballistic protection to individualsbehind the wall beneath the window. Alternatively, screws may attach thecurtain to any section of wall as needed. This example of the inventionhas utility in the protection of military and law enforcement personnelin the field, providing easily portable ballistic protection toexisting, non-protected structures.

EXAMPLE 4

This example illustrates the invention's use as a ballistic barrier inthe absence of any existing structure, temporary or permanent. Theinvention comprises a ballistic curtain as described above, produced inany required dimension. Utilizing hooks or rails, the curtain may beattached to portable poles which are anchored in the ground. Thisexample of the invention has utility in the protection of all personnelin the field, where a known threat suggests the possibility of ballisticattach from a specified direction, regardless of the availability ofexisting structures.

1. A curtain wherein strips of ballistic material are attached to a high-tensile strength flexible material.
 2. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are parallel to each other.
 3. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are comprised of steel.
 4. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are comprised of ballistic steel.
 5. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are comprised of ballistic composite.
 6. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material touch one another without overlap.
 7. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are manufactured to fit the dimensions of said high-tensile strength flexible material.
 8. A curtain of claim 1 wherein said strips of ballistic material are cut from existing plates to fit the dimensions of said high-tensile strength flexible material. 